Rmelo99
Network Engineer
Not to thread hi-jack but I'm a DIY'er and have done minor gas piping repairs. I have the "FEAR" of nat gas leaks and what can happen if things aren't done properly.
I have 3 nat gas stories....
In my first house the meter was in the basement. We smelled small amounts of nat gas while down there. One day the gas co. comes knocking that it's time to replace the meter (they do it every 10 years). While he's there we mention the "smell" we've noticed for months now. Long story short in a few hours they were digging up the front lawn to install a new main line to the house since there was a leak where the old came thru the foundation.
During the realestate boom i was rehabbing(flipping houses). Outside one there was always an overwhelming smell of nat gas. I finally realized it was stronger near the street storm drains. At first I thought it was sewer gas, then I convinced my self it wasn't. Called the GAS co and they said "oh we know about it, we're monitoring it". In the 6months I owned the house they came out 3x. Once to drill a bunch of 1" holes for about 50feet in the street.
They knew the street main was leaking but weren't in a rush to fix or replace it. Just monitor the levels. I was pissed b.c any potential buyers coming to the house could smell this stank while driving up to the house.
In my current house the gas lines to the house/meter/inside lines were all replaced when I bought the house. The meter is outside in front of the house. Near the meter there is faint nat gas smell. I called the Gas Co and they tell me it's normal.
So...although I still fear nat gas, I sometimes wonder how much is really needed to go BOOM. I mean my main 3 experiences tell me either the gas company has become de-sensitized to this stuff or I'm just overly cautious.
I have 3 nat gas stories....
In my first house the meter was in the basement. We smelled small amounts of nat gas while down there. One day the gas co. comes knocking that it's time to replace the meter (they do it every 10 years). While he's there we mention the "smell" we've noticed for months now. Long story short in a few hours they were digging up the front lawn to install a new main line to the house since there was a leak where the old came thru the foundation.
During the realestate boom i was rehabbing(flipping houses). Outside one there was always an overwhelming smell of nat gas. I finally realized it was stronger near the street storm drains. At first I thought it was sewer gas, then I convinced my self it wasn't. Called the GAS co and they said "oh we know about it, we're monitoring it". In the 6months I owned the house they came out 3x. Once to drill a bunch of 1" holes for about 50feet in the street.
They knew the street main was leaking but weren't in a rush to fix or replace it. Just monitor the levels. I was pissed b.c any potential buyers coming to the house could smell this stank while driving up to the house.
In my current house the gas lines to the house/meter/inside lines were all replaced when I bought the house. The meter is outside in front of the house. Near the meter there is faint nat gas smell. I called the Gas Co and they tell me it's normal.
So...although I still fear nat gas, I sometimes wonder how much is really needed to go BOOM. I mean my main 3 experiences tell me either the gas company has become de-sensitized to this stuff or I'm just overly cautious.